Palace confident authorities will uphold rights of 'red-tagged' Dr. Naty Castro | Inquirer News

Palace confident authorities will uphold rights of ‘red-tagged’ Dr. Naty Castro

/ 06:30 PM February 22, 2022

Palace confident authorities will uphold rights of 'red-tagged' Dr. Naty Castro

RED TAGGED Dr. Ma. Natividad Marian “Naty” Castro, who graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Manila-Philippine General Hospital in 1995, was accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and identified as a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-Central Committee.

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang expressed confidence on Tuesday that authorities will uphold the constitutional rights of Dr. Natividad “Naty” Castro, who was red-tagged and arrested by police.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles noted the assurances earlier made by authorities that Castro’s rights will be protected.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Ang sinabi po ng (The) Department of Health (DOH) [said], and I quote is that ‘all our citizens, healthcare workers included, enjoy the constitutional guarantees of due process and presumption of innocence until proven guilty. We trust our authorities to uphold these rights’,” Nograles said during the Palace press briefing.

FEATURED STORIES

“Ang ating mga (Our) authorities — our legal authorities, the [Department of the Interior and Local Government], the law enforcement authorities and all legal authorities — maintain that lahat ng (all) constitutional rights of the accused will be protected and all legal protocols and procedures were followed,” the acting presidential spokesperson added.

Meanwhile, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire was likewise questioned on her reaction to National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict spokesperson Lorraine Badoy’s criticism that the DOH is allegedly defending the central committee of the New People’s Army, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, after the health agency recognized Castro’s efforts.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Uphold Doc Naty’s right to due process, DOH tells PNP

Article continues after this advertisement

“We agree with CabSec Nograles. Ayun naman po ang naipalabas natin. Binigyan din lang po natin ng (That is what we issued. We just gave) recognition ito pong ating mga doktor (to these doctors) who are serving among the marginalized individuals or families in the country,” Vergeire said in the same briefing.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Katulad po ng sabi ni CabSec, kung ano po ‘yung proseso, diyan naman po tayo at tayo po ay naniniwala (Like what CabSec said, whatever the process is, we believe) that the processes and the rights of the individual will be preserved and respected,” she added.

Nograles stressed that Castro’s arrest is not because of red-tagging but by virtue of an arrest warrant for alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

Article continues after this advertisement

According to rights group Karapatan, Castro is a health worker who helped in establishing community centers and programs.

RELATED STORIES

Where is Dr. Castro? FLAG ‘gravely concerned’ about red-tagged doctor’s whereabouts after arrest

Cops could be liable for lapses in arrest of Doc Naty – CHR

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Sister finds red-tagged Dr. Naty Castro in Agusan del Sur jail

KGA
TAGS: doctor, Naty Castro, Palace

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.